Racer suspected of impaired driving

A 64-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence – in a race.

According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Leslie Charles Hunter was competing in a race at Watsonville Ocean Speedway (California) when complaints were made that he was driving recklessly. While that’s a complaint drivers make about sober competitors from time to time, in this case Santa Cruz County High Patrol officer Jacob Gonzales responded.

Gonzales told the paper that he found Hunter in the pit area after the race that he had just completed. Witnesses had complained that Hunter’s driving was so erratic that it “forced other drivers off or to the side of the track.”

Fortunately no one was injured.

After an investigation, Hunter was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol content level higher than 0.08 percent.